Channel recommendation system and method

Abstract

Provided are a channel recommendation system and method. Included is a non-transitory memory comprising instructions and a plurality of communication profiles including a first communication profile associated with a first user and a second communication profile associated with a second user. Each of the communication profiles includes channel information associated with a plurality of channels for communication between the first user and the second user. Also included is one or more processors in communication with the memory. The one or more processors execute the instructions to receive an indication to communicate with the second user from the first user. Further, a first current context of the first user, and a second current context of the second user are determined substantially when the indication is received. Still yet, at least one of the channels is selected utilizing: the first communication profile, the second communication profile, the first current context, and/or the second current context. To this end, a user interface is presented to the first user for initiating communication with the second user via the selected at least one channel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a non-transitory memory comprising instructions and a plurality of communication profiles including a first communication profile associated with a first user and a second communication profile associated with a second user, each of the communication profiles including channel information associated with a plurality of channels for communication between the first user and the second user; and   one or more processors in communication with the memory, wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to:
 receive an indication to communicate with the second user from the first user; 
 determine a first current context of the first user, and a second current context of the second user substantially when the indication is received; 
 select at least one of the channels utilizing at least one of: the first communication profile, the second communication profile, the first current context, or the second current context; and 
 present a user interface to the first user for initiating communication with the second user via the selected at least one channel. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the channel includes at least one of: one or more devices, one or more connections, one or more protocols, or one or more applications. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the channel information relates to at least one of: one or more devices, a type of connection associated with one or more devices, one or more protocols associated with one or more connections, or an installation of one or more applications. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first current context or the second current context relates to at least one of: a connectivity of one or more devices, a screen state of one or more devices, an audio profile, a current usage of audio or video, a location of one or more devices, a current time where one or more devices reside, or a type or content of a message to be communicated. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the communication profiles includes historical usage information. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the historical usage information relates to at least one of: a frequency with which one or more channels is used, a location at which one or more channels is used, one or more channels that was last used, or a cost associated with use of one or more channels. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the communication profiles includes a plurality of contacts. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured for preventing the communication profiles from being shared between different users. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to determine one or more recommended contacts to be presented to the first user, before the indication is received. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein each of the one or more recommended contacts includes one or more recommended channels. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein at least one aspect of the one or more recommended contacts is determined based on at least a portion of one or more of the communication profiles. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured such that the selection of the at least one channel is biased by weighting at least one of the second communication profile or the second current context more, in relation to at least one of the first communication profile or the first current context. 
     
     
         13 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 storing a plurality of communication profiles including a first communication profile associated with a first user and a second communication profile associated with a second user, each of the communication profiles including channel information associated with a plurality of channels for communication between the first user and the second user;   receiving an indication to communicate with the second user from the first user;   determining a first current context of the first user, and a second current context of the second user substantially when the indication is received;   selecting at least one of the channels utilizing at least one of: the first communication profile, the second communication profile, the first current context, or the second current context; and   presenting a user interface to the first user for initiating communication with the second user via the selected at least one channel.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the channel includes at least one of: one or more devices, one or more connections, one or more protocols, or one or more applications. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the channel information relates to at least one of: one or more devices, a type of connection associated with one or more devices, one or more protocols associated with one or more connections, or an installation of one or more applications. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first current context or the second current context relates to at least one of: a connectivity of one or more devices, a screen state of one or more devices, an audio profile, a current usage of audio or video, a location of one or more devices, a current time where one or more devices reside, or a type or content of a message to be communicated. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each of the communication profiles includes historical usage information. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the historical usage information relates to at least one of: a frequency with which one or more channels is used, a location at which one or more channels is used, one or more channels that was last used, or a cost associated with use of one or more channels. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each of the communication profiles includes a plurality of contacts. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , and further comprising preventing the communication profiles from being shared between different users. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , and further comprising determining one or more recommended contacts to be presented to the first user, before the indication is received. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein each of the one or more recommended contacts includes one or more recommended channels. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least one aspect of the one or more recommended contacts is determined based on at least a portion of one or more of the communication profiles. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the selection of the at least one channel is biased by weighting at least one of the second communication profile or the second current context more, in relation to at least one of the first communication profile or the first current context. 
     
     
         25 . A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium that when executed by a processor instruct the processor to:
 store a plurality of communication profiles including a first communication profile associated with a first user and a second communication profile associated with a second user, each of the communication profiles including channel information associated with a plurality of channels for communication between the first user and the second user;   receive an indication to communicate with the second user from the first user;   determine a first current context of the first user, and a second current context of the second user substantially when the indication is received;   select at least one of the channels utilizing at least one of: the first communication profile, the second communication profile, the first current context, or the second current context; and   present a user interface to the first user for initiating communication with the second user via the selected at least one channel.